Screen Producers Australia (SPA) today welcomed the announcement by NSW Minister for the Arts, Hon John Graham MLC, that important screen industry programs the Post Digital and Visual Effects (PDV), the Digital Games Development Rebate Program and the Made in NSW Fund will continue on existing terms for eligible projects.
“This announcement is a huge relief to the screen industry, and we thank the Minister for his robust and deep engagement with SPA and the industry over the past few weeks and the opportunity to present the risk and harm that was being done to our sector,” said SPA CEO Matthew Deaner.
“While there will be some work to do to fully restore NSW’s standing, we appreciate that the Government has listened carefully and responded accordingly.
“I also welcomed the unity shown across the different elements of our industry to work together to address this situation.
“Screen is a significant and growing industry sector, which generates economic activity, employment, skills training and reinforces our cultural identity in a myriad of ways.
“Going forward, the industry is optimistic that we can advance the NSW sector on a positive footing and ensure that our creative industries here take their rightful place in the national and international economic and industry landscapes.
“In today’s meeting with the Minister, we had the opportunity to canvas several positive steps that could help to secure and grow the state’s screen industry including working with the Federal Government and industry to develop a Screen Export Strategy, the need for additional infrastructure, programs for skills development and training and the generation of a ‘Screen Hub’ for the sector and for the NSW public.
“In addition, many submissions to the State’s Arts, Culture & Creative Industries Policy including SPA’s have highlighted the need for Screen NSW to be an autonomous agency with the resources needed to support and grow the industry. Unlike many other states, this is currently not the case, to the detriment of the NSW industry,” said Mr Deaner.
